Improvement in the manufacture of artificial stone



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PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. Flt-EAR, OF CHICAGO, ILLIN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE,

STUC'CO, CEMENT, 8cc.

5 Fir Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 3,965, dated February 4, 1868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GEORGE A. FREAK, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Production of Artificial Stones and Marbles, and of Stucco, Cements, and Mineral Paints; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description thereof.

The nature of my invention consists in the use of an a ueous solution of gum-shellac, or its equivalent, III cementing together particles of silex alumina, calcium, or other mineral su )stances, to produce, artificially, a hard and durable stone, stucco, cement, or paint, for useful or ornamental purposes.

. My shellac solution is best obtained by boilu I M W in the "um-shellac of commerce in water pre- (the made alkaline by the addition of any suitable alkaTiiF s aTt in proper proportion. The proportions oi sli'ellac, alkali, and water may, and necessarily will, vary with the strength and quality of the solution required in producing various descriptions of stones, cements, &c.

In the manufacture of artificial stones for building purposes, I use a solution obtained )y first issolving; from two to four ounces of salcratus, iotasi soda, or other equivalent a-IkaIi, lll about zine gallon of mm boilin water, and then adding thereto one pound of uni-shellac, oilin" the mixture until the um is entire y issolved.

A firm and durable stone, impervious to moisture, is produced by damp ning a mixture of about one part of lime cem nt and four parts of sand or other silicious material (with or without raw] or other ingredients) with my aqueous solution of shellac, and then firmly compressing the composition into molds of any desired form, either by suitable machinery or by hand with mallets or tampingrods.

The blocks or other articles thus produced will rapidly harden when removed from the molds, and in a few days are ready for building purposes. I prefer to obtain the compression of the material by percussion rather than by simple pressure.

To produce a more perfect finish, I contemplate washing the surface or face of the artificial stone thus manufactured, five or six days after molding the same, with a weak solution of shellac dissolved in alcohol, ether, or spirits of turpentine, (say about one pound of shellac in one gallon of the spirits.)

Instead of using a mixture of l i i i i e or geg eiit and sand to produce an artificial stone, I contemplfilimoistening simple sand, cla lime, chalk, or other earthy or minera su stance, as well as any combinations thereof, with my a ueons shellac solution, and then n 1oldin t 1e same )y percussion into suitable bloc (S or other devices, so that. endless variety may be obtained therein at pleasure.

To produce a mastic or stucco, I add so much of my shellac soluti n to l i |ne, an1 l, clay, or any earthy or silicious material, or to mixtures thereof, as that the material or mix- We shall be %Q$L DLULQ91Q29 when consisten ey which can be readily worked and Mliediwith a trowel. If then applied to any suitable siii'lii cig ifivill firmly adhere thereto, and, upon hardening, produce a firm, waterproof surface, which may be made to resemble stone so closely as not to be readily distinguished therefrom. By making the composition still thinner, it may be used as a substitute for mint, and it will also form a strong and adhesive cement for stone-work, 85c.

Through a proper choice of the sand or other substances forming the basis of my improved artificial stones, 850., or by the use of colorin matter in connection therewith, nemdcscriptions of natural stone may be imitated and any colors or shades of ma; terial obtained at pleasure.

In applying my improved stucco or mastic to buildings, whether of brick or stone, 1 first wash the surface with my aqueous shellac solution preparatory to layiu g on the com po sition hereinbefore described.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The use of an aqueous solution of shellac in the production of artificial stones, cements, stucco, &c., for useful and ornamental purposes.

GEO. A. FBEAR.

In presence of- DAVID A. BURR, H. H. YOUNG.

Examiner 

